James Flavin


James William Flavin Jr. was an American character actor whose stage, film, and television career lasted some forty years.

Early life

Flavin was born in Portland, Maine, and attended the West Point, where he played football. Although biographic accounts relate he began his stage career in Maine, some obituaries appear to mistakenly claim he was born in Portland, Oregon.

Career

Summer stock companies flocked to Maine each year, and in 1929 Flavin was asked to fill in for an actor. He did well with the part and the company manager offered him $150 per week to accompany the troupe back to New York. Flavin accepted and by the spring of 1930, he resided in a rooming house at 108 W. 87th Street in Manhattan.
Flavin worked his way across the country in stock productions and tours, arriving in Los Angeles around 1932. He quickly made the transition to movies, landing the lead role in his very first film, a Universal serial, The Airmail Mystery. He married his costar in that film, Lucile Browne, that same year. The serial marked virtually the last time that Flavin would play the lead in a film. Thereafter, he was restricted almost exclusively to supporting characters, many of whom were unnamed. He specialized in uniformed cops and hard-bitten detectives, but also played chauffeurs, cabbies, and even a 16th-century palace guard.
Flavin appeared in nearly four hundred films between 1932 and 1971. He appeared in almost one hundred television episodes, including the NBC sitcom, The People's Choice, starring Jackie Cooper, several episodes as police Detective Sawyer, who was being driven nuts by Gracie Allen on The Burns and Allen Show, and three times as a sheriff on the western aviation adventure series, Sky King, before his final appearance, as U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident, a dramatization of the shooting down in 1960 by the former Soviet Union of the U-2 pilot, Francis Gary Powers.
Flavin portrayed Sam Cooper in the 1958 episode, "The Ed Church Case", of the CBS crime drama series, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, starring David Janssen. In 1959, he guest starred as Big Dan Girod in the episode, "Invitation to a Murder", on the ABC/WB detective series, Bourbon Street Beat, starring Andrew Duggan. In 1960, Flavin appeared in The Twilight Zone episode "A Passage for Trumpet".
From 1960 to 1962, Flavin was cast as Robert Howard in 33 episodes of the ABC/Warner Brothers drama series, The Roaring 20s, starring with Dorothy Provine, Donald May, Rex Reason, John Dehner, Gary Vinson, and Mike Road.
From 1960 to 1962, Flavin appeared three times on the CBS sitcom, Pete and Gladys, with Harry Morgan and Cara Williams. He also had a recurring role on CBS' talking-horse sitcom Mister Ed as Mr. Kramer, the stable owner. Flavin portrayed Fire Chief Hawkins in the 1964 episode, "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt", on the NBC education drama series, Mr. Novak, starring James Franciscus.
Flavin made his Broadway debut in the 1969 revival of The Front Page, in which he played Murphy and briefly took over the lead role of Walter Burns from Robert Ryan.

Death

Flavin died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, on April 23, 1976, after suffering a heart attack. His widow, Lucile Browne Flavin, died 17 days later. The couple is interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Selected filmography

The Airmail Mystery as Bob LeeMcKenna of the Mounted as Corporal Randall McKennaBack Street as Reporter Okay, America! as Minor Role The Most Dangerous Game as First Mate on Yacht The All American as Don LindsayAir Mail as Man with Radio Report Hot Pepper as Second Policeman King Kong as Second Mate BriggsHello, Sister! as FiremanRiot Squad as Detective Mack McCueShip of Wanted Men as Frank BuschOnly Yesterday as Billy Beloved as WilcoxThe Big Race as Bill FiggThe Crosby Case as Detective O'Shea Affairs of a Gentleman as Donovan Wild Gold as Detective Now I'll Tell as Cop on Beach Baby Take a Bow as FlanniganThe Affairs of Cellini as Palace Guard Gift of Gab as Alumni President Wake Up and Dream as Cop The Brand of Hate as Holt LarkinsBright Eyes as Bob, Pilot Society Doctor as Detective Ewing After Office Hours as Police Detective Secrets of Chinatown as BrandhmaDeath Flies East as Co-Pilot Captain Hurricane as Freighter Officer Straight from the Heart as Policeman G Men as Agent with Jean Public Hero No. 1 as Flavin, Federal Agent People Will Talk as First Reporter Chinatown Squad as Detective Silk Hat Kid as Gangster The Murder Man as Policeman at Merry-Go-Round The Daring Young Man as Informant on Telephone Woman Wanted as Mac, Policeman Man on the Flying Trapeze as Henry, Chauffeur Special Agent as Agent Arresting Julie Shipmates Forever as Instructing Officer Rendezvous as 2nd Military Policeman Remember Last Night? as Policeman One Way Ticket as EdThe Littlest Rebel as Yankee Guard Magnificent Obsession as Chauffeur Song and Dance Man as Taxi Driver Charlie Chan at the Race Track as Detective at Headquarters Straight from the Shoulder as Policeman My Man Godfrey as Detective #2 They Met in a Taxi as Policeman The Luckiest Girl in the World as PolicemanTwo in a Crowd as Policeman The Magnificent Brute as Hunkie Partner Born to Dance as Ship's Officer Mysterious Crossing as Plainclothesman Dangerous Number as Cab Driver You Only Live Once as State Trooper Let's Get Married as Dolan Midnight Taxi as Detective McCormick Motor Madness as Miller I Promise to Pay as Bill SeaverThat I May Live as Policeman San Quentin as Guard Announcing Jailbreak The League of Frightened Men as JoeThis Is My Affair as Prison Guard Angel's Holiday as Detective Married Before Breakfast as Police Passenger Girls Can Play as Bill O'MalleyFit for a King as Ship's Officer Big City as Comet Cab Driver My Dear Miss Aldrich as Dr. Spitzy Calahan Charlie Chan on Broadway as Detective Dangerously Yours as Driver Hot Water as Policeman Live, Love and Learn as Marine Who Likes Painting Thoroughbreds Don't Cry as Timmie's Agent 45 Fathers as Policeman Big Town Girl as State Trooper Mannequin as Burly Man The Bad Man of Brimstone as Second Federal Marshal The Buccaneer as British Sergeant Everybody's Doing It as Detective Hayes Penitentiary as Doran Born to Be Wild as Striker Night Spot as Kidnapper Start Cheering as Gas Station Attendant Test Pilot as Pilot Alexander's Ragtime Band as Army Captain Wives Under Suspicion as Jenks, Chauffeur Speed to Burn as Radio Car Policeman The Shopworn Angel as Guard Yelling 'Halt!' Gateway as Guard I Am the Law as George, Witness You Can't Take It with You as Jailer Three Loves Has Nancy as Jack's Friend Too Hot to Handle as Young Reporter Time Out for Murder as Police Sergeant at Roundup Lightning Carson Rides Again as Justice Department AgentThe Arkansas Traveler as Trainman Five of a Kind as Policeman Blondie as Policeman in Accident Car Ride a Crooked Mile as Hack Convicts at Large as Detective Sergeant BerkovichWhile New York Sleeps as 2nd Cop The Duke of West Point as Plebe Hockey Coach #1Swing, Sister, Swing as Pilot Sweethearts as Melody Theater Doorman Thanks for Everything as PolicemanCharlie Chan in Honolulu as Homicide Division Desk Sergeant Jesse James as Cavalry Captain Pardon Our Nerve as Policeman The Ice Follies of 1939 as Doorman Sergeant Madden as Police Interrogator Everybody's Baby as Police Announcer Code of the Streets as DoormanThe Lady's from Kentucky as Policeman Union Pacific as Paddy Big Town Czar as George Mitchell Rose of Washington Square as Guard Tell No Tales as Officer Simmons They Asked for It as Cop Unmarried as Oil Driller The Gracie Allen Murder Case as Turnkey 6,000 Enemies as Ring Announcer Mickey the Kid as SandersThey All Come Out as Officer Each Dawn I Die as Policeman They Shall Have Music as Police Sergeant Mr. Wong in Chinatown as Sergeant JerryWhen Tomorrow Comes as Coast Guard Man on Road Irish Luck as Hotel Detective FlugerCalling All Marines as Sergeant SmithFast and Furious as Policeman Guarding Entrance The Roaring Twenties as Policeman Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President as Policeman The Cisco Kid and the Lady as Sergeant O'RileyRemember the Night as Court Attendant The Grapes of Wrath as Guard The Fighting 69th as Supply Sergeant Broadway Melody of 1940 as Bouncer Castle on the Hudson as Death Row Guard Framed as Cop Double Alibi as Patrolman Johnson Women Without Names as Guard Johnny Apollo as Guard in Library And One Was Beautiful as McRafferty, Jail Guard It All Came True as Roaring 90's Club Doorman Those Were the Days! as Policeman Hot Steel as Storm SwensonGirl in 313 as Detective CarvinLa Conga Nights as Grogan The Way of All Flesh as Policeman Florian as Policeman The Ghost Breakers as Hotel Porter Brother Orchid as Parking Attendant at Fat Dutchy's Lucky Cisco Kid as Ranch Foreman The Man Who Talked Too Much as Pete, Prison Guard Queen of the Mob as Third FBI DirectorSailor's Lady as Motorcycle Cop Private Affairs as Doorman Manhattan Heartbeat as Truck DriverSouth of Pago Pago as Cafe CustomerWhen the Daltons Rode as Annabella's Brother The Golden Fleecing as Cop Rhythm on the River as Detective The Great Profile as DetectiveYesterday's Heroes as Scout Knute Rockne All American as Army Assistant Coach The Long Voyage Home as Dock Policeman North West Mounted Police as Mountie The Devil's Pipeline as DowlingDancing on a Dime as Policeman Youth Will Be Served as Buck MillerStreet of Memories as Dance Hall Manager Give Us Wings as Mr. White Tin Pan Alley as Army Sergeant Four Mothers as Demolition Man High Sierra as Policeman Tall, Dark and Handsome as Detective in Cigar Store The Wild Man of Borneo as Policeman Mr. & Mrs. Smith as Attractive Woman's Escort Buck Privates as Recruiting Sergeant Western Union as Deputy Sheriff The Strawberry Blonde as Ticket Inspector on Boat Footsteps in the Dark as Police Broadcaster Pot o' Gold as Sheriff Bud Connolly Ride on Vaquero as Officer Johnson Ziegfeld Girl as Buck, Truck Driver The People vs. Dr. Kildare as Bob Hackley Reaching for the Sun as First Guard Affectionately Yours as TomassettiAdventure in Washington as Matty Sunny as Motorcycle Cop The Bride Came C.O.D. as Interrogating Detective Manpower as Orderly About to Give Bath Life Begins for Andy Hardy as Policeman Belle Starr as SergeantHold Back the Dawn as Immigration Guard We Go Fast as Police Lieutenant BardetteTexas as Abilene Fight Announcer Great Guns as Army Captain at White Army Tent I Wake Up Screaming as Detective New York Town as Recruiting Sergeant Skylark as Subway Guard Shadow of the Thin Man as Cop Who Greets Nick at Racetrack The Night of January 16th as Patrolman KellyKathleen as Moving ManBedtime Story as Hotel Guest in Room 625 You're in the Army Now as Officer Treat 'Em Rough as Joe TrosperMr. and Mrs. North as Police Captain A Yank on the Burma Road as Police Radio Dispatcher Ride 'Em Cowboy as Railroad Detective #2 Born to Sing as Cop Reap the Wild Wind as Girl's Father Broadway as Doorman To the Shores of Tripoli as Warden Juke Box Jenny as First Customs OfficerKid Glove Killer as Keenan, Detective Grilling Eddie Saboteur as Motorcycle Cop Fingers at the Window as Lieutenant SchaefferLarceny, Inc. as Bank Guard Yankee Doodle Dandy as Union Army Veteran #1 on Caisson Juke Girl as Atlanta Policeman Ten Gentlemen from West Point as Captain LuddyTough As They Come as Process Server The Big Shot as Detective Thru Different Eyes as ThomasNight in New Orleans as Egan Iceland as Sergeant Gentleman Jim as George Corbett Life Begins at Eight-Thirty as Policeman City Without Men as Coast Guard Officer Air Force as Major A.M. BagleySomething to Shout About as Policeman It Ain't Hay as Cop Hello, Frisco, Hello as Headwaiter Mission to Moscow as American Senator Action in the North Atlantic as Merchant Marine School Lieutenant-Commander Heaven Can Wait as Policeman Swing Shift Maisie as Radio Policeman So Proudly We Hail! as Captain O'Brien Murder on the Waterfront as Commander George KalinThank Your Lucky Stars as Policeman Corvette K-225 as 1st Lieutenant Bill GardnerI Dood It as Federal Agent Footlight Glamour as Mr. Phillips The Iron Major as Football Umpire Riding High as Train Conductor There's Something About a Soldier as Civilian Brawler Ladies Courageous as Gardner Four Jills in a Jeep as Military Police Sergeant Uncertain Glory as Captain of Mobile GuardBermuda Mystery as Dempsey Once Upon a Time as Skeptic on Subway Christmas Holiday as Policeman Mr. Winkle Goes to War as Sergeant Abroad with Two Yanks as Sergeant WigginsStrange Affair as Bank Security Guard Laura as Detective McEveety The Princess and the Pirate as Naval Officer Hollywood Canteen as Marine Sergeant Here Come the Waves as Shore Patrolman Together Again as Policeman God Is My Co-Pilot as Major at Kweilin Airbase Without Love as Sergeant Circumstantial Evidence as Guard Pillow to Post as Louie, Army Sergeant in Jeep Don Juan Quilligan as Police Sergeant Wonder Man as Bus Driver Conflict as Detective Lieutenant Workman Murder, He Says as Police Officer Within These Walls as Guard Anchors Aweigh as Radio CopOver 21 as Captain Incendiary Blonde as Mounted Policeman The Shanghai Cobra as H.R. JarvisDuffy's Tavern as Cop Mildred Pierce as Detective Johnny Angel as Flavin, Mate of the Quincy Hold That Blonde as Laundry Truck Driver Masquerade in Mexico as FBI Agent San Antonio as Streeter, Cattleman The Spider as Officer Johnny TracyTars and Spars as Chief Bosun Mate Gurney Young Widow as Subway Conductor Sentimental Journey as Detective Sergeant McFarland The Hoodlum Saint as Man Assigning Numbers at Dance Contest A Stolen Life as Investigator Her Kind of Man as Evans The Strange Love of Martha Ivers as Detective #1Easy to Wed as JoeBoys' Ranch as Baseball Stadium Policeman Rendezvous with Annie as TurnkeyCourage of Lassie as Lieutenant Tom Arnold It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog as Police Lieutenant The Missing Lady as Police Inspector CardonaStep by Step as Woods Cloak and Dagger as Colonel WalshAngel on My Shoulder as BellamyTwo Years Before the Mast as Crimp Nobody Lives Forever as Shake ThomasThe Mighty McGurk as Police Officer Ladies' Man as Automat Manager Easy Come, Easy Go as Plainclothes Man Nora Prentiss as District AttorneyThe Fabulous Dorseys as GormanMy Favorite Brunette as Detective Lieutenant 'Mac' Hennessey Lost Honeymoon as Officer Max Riley It Happened on Fifth Avenue as First Policeman Dishonored Lady as Police Sergeant Patella Robin Hood of Texas as Police Captain DanforthDesert Fury as Sheriff Pat JohnsonSong of the Thin Man as Reardon, Police Officer Black Gold as Mac, Race Clerk Joe Palooka in the Knockout as PolicemanUnconquered as Villager Nightmare Alley as Hoatley - First Carnival Owner Sleep, My Love as Police Lieutenant Mitchell My Girl Tisa as Guard The Noose Hangs High as Traffic Cop Fury at Furnace Creek as Judge Advocate Secret Service Investigator as Police Inspector ThorndykeThe Velvet Touch as Sergeant OliphantThe Babe Ruth Story as First Mate at Ruth's Bar One Touch of Venus as KerriganThe Return of October as Detention Ward Guard The Plunderers as Sergeant MajorBungalow 13 as Lieutenant Sam WilsonShockproof as Policeman in Park Homicide as Detective Lieutenant BoylanMy Dream Is Yours as Coconut Grove Waiter Flamingo Road as Angry Carnival Creditor Mississippi Rhythm as Stan CaldwellMighty Joe Young as SchultzAbbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff as Inspector WellmanBlondie Hits the Jackpot as BrophyThe Devil's Henchman as Police Sergeant Briggs